In Focus

On 14th November 2010 Mt. Merapi was still spewing pyroclastic flow even though the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG) reported its activities had been decreasing in the three weeks following the volcano’s first eruption on 26 October 2010.

BNPB has narrowed danger zones around Merapi. The danger zones in Klaten District and Boyolali have been reduced to 10 Km and in Magelang District to 15 Km. The danger zone in Sleman District remains 20 Km.

Children, pregnant women and seniors at Pakunden evacuation site are not recommended to return to their home as the volcano still poses a big threat.
(Courtesy of CWS Partner, KYPA)

Some evacuees have returned home. However, vulnerable groups such as women, pregnant women, seniors and children are advised not to return to their homes, as the volcano activity alert is still at its highest status and poses a serious threat.

According to BNPB Operation Control Center (Pusdalop) Command Post AJU, the eruptions have rendered a total of 367,548 people displaced in 134 evacuation points, in Yogyakarta and in Central Java Provinces. As of today there are 259 confirmed deaths and 509 hospitalized.

CWS prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable. Following the assessment that was conducted in four affected districts, CWS, through KYPA, has distributed a total of 248 baby kits in Magelang District; four locations in Ngluwar Sub-district, one location in Salam Sub-district and five locations in Pakis Sub-district. As for the latter “The sub-district doesn’t receive much assistance due to its location. The access to the villages is poor. The team has to walk 2 Km to get there,” said Arianto Andra, KYPA’s staffer.

A mother in Pakunded Village, Magelang receiving baby kits from CWS Partner
(Courtesy of CWS Partner, KYPA)

The kit consists of baby soap, towel, baby clothes, blanket, and baby oil. “Thank you for the baby kits but we also need mosquito nets and sleeping mats for our baby,” expressed Rubi, one of the evacuees from Kradenan Village, Magelang.  

CWS is greatly concerned with the psychosocial wellbeing of the disaster-affected population. Therefore, CWS will hold a training in Solo to equip one of its partners with psychosocial first aid to help Mt. Merapi survivors.

CWS works with  KYPA, Mitra Alam and L-Paska and coordinates with the other members of ACT Indonesia Forum, local government, UN Agencies and DRR Forum in Yogyakarta.


Church World Service is a humanitarian non-profit organization whose priority has always been to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. Together with local organizations, we work in urban and rural setting to support sustainable development and help to address the root causes of poverty as well as to provide humanitarian assistance to survivors of natural and human-made disasters. CWS was established in 1946 and has been operating in Indonesia for over 40 years.

Church World Service is a member of  ACT Alliance.

Contacts:

Dino Satria
Emergency Response Coordinator
+62 811 266330

Ilmi Suminar
Communication Coordinator
+62 817 002 1284